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Deciduous Plants

PLANT USE KEY

Deciduous Shrubs

Conservation practices: E, N, H

Soil: Wide Tolerance

Growth rate: Moderate

Sun: Full to Partial

Description: A multi-branching shrub that typically rounds out and matures up to 10’.  Small white, flat topped clusters of flowers appear in late spring.

Uses: Great for erosion control and streambank protection.  Also provides habitat for wildlife.

Fact Sheet

Conservation practices: E, N, H

Soil: Wide Tolerance

Growth rate: Moderate

Sun: Full to Partial

Description: A multi-branched, upright shrub that can reach up to 25’ in height. Small white tubular flowers may appear in mid-summer.

Uses: Can be used for streambank protection as well as provide habitat for wildlife.

Conservation practices: N, H
 
Soil: Wide Tolerance
 
Growth rate: Moderate
 
Sun: Full to Partial
 
Description: A large shrub or small tree can reach up to heights or 30’.  It often has a twisted truck with slender crisscrossing branches.
 
Uses: Can be used as an ornamental plant as well as provides habitat for wildlife.
 

Conservation practices: H

Soil: Well drained, moist

Growth rate: Moderate

Sun: Full to Partial

Description: A multi-stemmed, upright shrub, that typically grows to 8-12′. Light purple/pink clusters of flowers appear in late spring. This plant is typically deer resistant. 

Uses: Can be used as an ornamental, great for borders, hedges and screens.

 
Conservation practices: E, N, H
 
Soil: Wide Tolerance
 
Growth rate: Fast
 
Sun: Full to Partial
 
Description: Forms a large erect shrub, maturing to 5-10′.  Grows well in poor and tough conditions, including stream banks.  Creates a natural screen and provides erosion control.  Great for wildlife.
 
Uses: Creates a natural screen, may be used to provide an outside row in windbreaks and provides erosion control. Great for wildlife.
 

Conservation practices: E, N, H

Soil: Wide Tolerance

Growth rate: Moderate

Sun: Full to Partial

Description: Forms a small to medium sized multi-stemmed shrub.  It has a red stem and white clustering that mature in late summer/fall.  It grows best in wet or swampy conditions.  It is also a great structure for holding soil on slopped areas. 

Uses: Good for streambank protection and wildlife habitat and also can be an ornamental or border plant.

 

Conservation practices: H

Soil: Wide Tolerance

Growth rate: Slow to Moderate

Sun: Full to Partial

Description: Forms a dense 12-15′ shrub with an arching multi-stemmed branch.  Woody, brown capsule fruit mature in late summer and bright yellow flowers emerge mid to late fall.

Fact Sheet

Deciduous Trees

Conservation practices: E, F, H, N, T

Soil: Wet – Well Drained

Growth rate: Fast

Sun: Full (Tolerates Partial)

Description: 50′ high tree with a pendulous branched crown. Black Cherry will have profuse white flowers in the spring, and brilliant gold leaf color in the fall.

Uses: Fruit from this tree is good for making wine and jelly. The fruit from the tree is also a great food for wildlife.

Fact Sheet

Conservation practices: H, N, T

Soil: Wet – Well Drained

Growth rate: Fast

Sun: Full (Tolerates Partial)

Description: A medium/large tree that develops a straight, clear trunk with a top that narrows under competition. Branches are quite stout.

Uses: This tree is highly prized as a wood product and provide food and habitat for Wildlife.

Conservation practices: H, T
 
Soil: Moist – Wet
 
Growth rate: Fast
 
Sun: Full to Partial
 
Description: A small to medium sized tree that can develop a massive trunk with a spreading irregular crown.
 
Uses: Black willow is generally not recommended for use as a specimen in residential landscapes because of its susceptibility to breakage, potential insect/disease problems, need for soils that never dry out, litter problems, shallow spreading root system which may seek out water/sewer pipes, and mature size potential. In the right location, its shallow roots can act as a quality soil binder, providing excellent erosion control. 
 

Conservation practices: E, H, T, N

Soil: Moist – Well drained

Growth rate: Moderate

Sun: Full to Partial

Description: Forms a medium sized tree up to 70′. The trunk usually divides into several upright trunks.

Uses: Often used as an ornamental but also attracts wildlife. Good tree for riparian buffers and helps reduce stream bank erosion. 

 
Conservation practices: F, H, N, T
 
Soil: Moist – Well drained
 
Growth rate: Moderate to Fast
 
Sun: Full
 
Description: Forms a medium to tall (up to 100′) tree with a dense elliptical crown.  Widely known for its maple syrup production and classic maple leaf.
 
Uses: The production of maple syrup. 
 

Conservation practices: H, N, T

Soil: Moist – Well drained

Growth rate: Moderate – Fast

Sun: Full

Description: A medium to large tree (50-60′) with a crown shaped cone. It is known for its unique star shaped leaves that turn vibrant red in the fall. Spiny “gumball” fruit which are woody brown spheres.  

Uses: Widely used as a wind break, a shade or street tree, and to stabilize water edges. 

 

Conservation practices: H, N, T

Soil: Moist – Wet

Growth rate: Fast

Sun: Full

Description: 75-100′ tree with a massive trunk.  The bark of a Sycamore is mottled.  This tree is fast growing and prefers moist soils. 

Uses: A large tree for a large space.  Generally considered too large and too messy for street tree use.

Fact Sheet

Can also be known as: Native Birch or Paper Birch

Conservation practices: H, N, T

Soil: Moist, Wide tolerance

Growth rate: Moderate

Sun: Full

Description: A medium sized tree (up to 50′) that forms pyramid shape, sometimes with an irregular crown.  Often has several trunks and is a slender tree.  Native birch has reddish brown bark on young stems that turns white, with peeling papery strips after 3 to 4 years.

Uses: Makes an attractive ornamental in groups or singularly.

Fact Sheet